Stephen Anderson

STEPHEN ANDERSON is a critically acclaimed composer and pianist whose music has been released on fourteen published compact discs through Summit, Albany, Nagel Heyer Records, and other labels. His Nation Degeneration and Believe (2013) CDs represented Summit Records at the 53rd and 56th Grammy® Awards respectively. Both the Nation Degeneration and Forget Not CDs received 4½ stars (out of 5) from the All Music Guide—Forget Not was nominated best jazz “Debut CD” (3rd Annual Village Voice Jazz Critics Poll 2008). Anderson’s most recent release, The Dominican Jazz Project (2016), was similarly selected to represent Summit Records for the 17th Annual Latin Grammy® Awards in the categories of “Best New Artist” and “Best Jazz CD” as well as the 59th Annual Grammy® Awards in the category of “Best Latin Jazz Recording.” Anderson was pianist with the Lynn Seaton Trio (2000-03), the North Texas One O’clock Lab Band (Lab 2000-01), was winner of the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival piano competition (1997), and keyboardist for gold-recording country artist, Kevin Sharp (1996-97).

STEPHEN ANDERSON is a critically acclaimed composer and pianist whose music has been released on fourteen published compact discs through Summit, Albany, Nagel Heyer Records, and other labels. His Nation Degeneration and Believe (2013) CDs represented Summit Records at the 53rd and 56th Grammy® Awards respectively. Both the Nation Degeneration and Forget Not CDs received 4½ stars (out of 5) from the All Music Guide—Forget Not was nominated best jazz “Debut CD” (3rd Annual Village Voice Jazz Critics Poll 2008). Anderson’s most recent release, The Dominican Jazz Project (2016), was similarly selected to represent Summit Records for the 17th Annual Latin Grammy® Awards in the categories of “Best New Artist” and “Best Jazz CD” as well as the 59th Annual Grammy® Awards in the category of “Best Latin Jazz Recording.” Anderson was pianist with the Lynn Seaton Trio (2000-03), the North Texas One O’clock Lab Band (Lab 2000-01), was winner of the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival piano competition (1997), and keyboardist for gold-recording country artist, Kevin Sharp (1996-97).

As a composer of classical and jazz music, his works have been performed by ensembles throughout the United States, including the West Point Military Academy Band, Dallas Chamber Orchestra, Montclair State Wind Symphony, Crested Butte Chamber Orchestra, the MIT Concert Band, North Carolina Central Percussion Ensemble, UNC Symphony Orchestra, UNC Wind Ensemble and many others, and at such venues as the College Band Directors National Association, the International Tuba Euphonium Association, and the Australian Trumpet Guild. Awards include two commissions from the Barlow Endowment (2005, 2010), finalist, West Point Jazz Knights Composers Forum competition (2011), Chapman Family Foundation Teaching Award (2014), Junior Faculty Development Award-UNC (2008), United Arts Council of Greater Greensboro, the UNC Research Council, the “Village Pride, Hometown Hero Award” WCHL Chapel Hill Radio (2008), Endeavors magazine features (2013, 2008), and reviews in All About Jazz, Jazz Times, All Music Guide, and PAS. Dr. Anderson is Associate Professor of Composition and Jazz Studies at the University of North Carolina and is Director of the UNC Summer Jazz Workshop (http://music.unc.edu/summerjazzworkshop).

Anderson holds a D.M.A. from the University of North Texas (2005), served as Assistant Professor of Jazz Piano at Western Illinois University (2003-2005), and is currently Assistant Professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in Composition and Jazz Studies. He studied composition with Cindy McTee, Joseph Klein, Tom Clark, Joseph Butch Rovan, Phil Winsor, Paris Rutherford, Stephen Jones, David Sargent, Michael Hicks, and Murray Boren. He studied piano with Dan Haerle, Stephan Karlson, Dan Waldis, Gary Freeman, Wilson Brown, and Mona Smith. Through visiting artist-in-residence series, Anderson has also received personal instruction from Joseph Schwantner, Brian Ferneyhough, Stephen Hartke, Maria Schneider, Bob Brookmeyer, and Jim McNeely.

December 31, 2010

June 04, 2008

“The pocket he plays in is precise and intense, whether he imposes alien forms onto
his pieces or simply thwarts the expectations of rhythm and harmony…there is no
question of the beauty in Anderson’s playing…”
—Jay Deshpande, All about Jazz

(Forget Not CD) 4½ Stars - “Anderson...creates new music and improvisations that
are full of life, energy and fresh ideas. Highly recommended.”
—Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

…Quest…composed by Stephen Anderson, establishes a method of creating a four-
part texture by just two instruments. This, to my ears, is the most innovative work
on the CD, and is really quite striking in its originality

“The pocket he plays in is precise and intense, whether he imposes alien forms onto
his pieces or simply thwarts the expectations of rhythm and harmony…there is no
question of the beauty in Anderson’s playing…”
—Jay Deshpande, All about Jazz

(Forget Not CD) 4½ Stars - “Anderson...creates new music and improvisations that
are full of life, energy and fresh ideas. Highly recommended.”
—Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

…Quest…composed by Stephen Anderson, establishes a method of creating a four-
part texture by just two instruments. This, to my ears, is the most innovative work
on the CD, and is really quite striking in its originality.
—David DeBoor Canfield, Fanfare Magazine
(review of Quest, by Duo XXI, Albany Records)

…“an exemplar of the scholar-musician.”
—Jay Deshpande, All about Jazz

…one of the bright stars of the contemporary scene.
—It’s Just Jazz, KZFR 90.1 FM

“Isaiah is a powerful work, full of colors both vivid and, at times, pastel. The
audience received this premiere performance with enthusiastic applause, with good
reason.”
—Geoffrey Simon, Classical Voice of North Carolina